HALLOWEEN has officially gone to the dogs.
Whether you make your own or buy one for your pooch, the costumes for dogs are just as fun (if not more so) than the ones for kids. People take their canine costumes darn serious.
All of this dress up and partying is great fun but there are some dogs and people that dread Halloween. The constant ringing of the doorbell can be a stressful situation for some dogs and their owners.
If Fido is a noisy barker when the doorbell is rung or excitable about people at the front door, use Halloween as a training opportunity to sit quietly at the front door, instead of dreading the idea of the doorbell ringing every two minutes all night long. Practice this training exercise today, the day before Halloween night. Expecting him to do this exercise successfully the night of Halloween is asking way too much.
First, place your dog on a leash so you have more control and have a bowl of dog treats close at hand. Have a friend or family member ring the doorbell. If Fido breaks the sit and tries to rush at the door, quickly step in front and block the dog's attempt to rush the door. Then use your body - without touching your dog with your hands or pulling the leash - to bump or push your dog back to the spot where it was originally sitting. This is done by using your upper or lower legs (depending on how big your dog is) to block or "check" your dog. Sort of like a hockey player, but on a much gentler scale. The first time you try this it will be frustrating for both you and the dog. But if you are agile and aware enough you will soon begin to predict how and where your dog will break the sit, and you'll move your body accordingly to block him before he moves.
Every time Fido does the exercise correctly - which is to not break the sit and bark only a couple of times - he is rewarded with verbal praise and a treat. When he does it incorrectly he is given a stern verbal cue such as "wrong" or "no," then guided back to the sit spot, with no verbal or physical praise. Within a few consistent repetitions your dog will soon figure out that if he breaks his sit upon the doorbell ringing he gets no reward, when he sits he gets a reward.
When you begin to see your dog remaining on its spot and looking at you for the reward instead of rushing past you for the door, remove the leash and continue the exercise. If Fido continues along the positive learning path and remains in the sit upon the doorbell ringing, ramp up the training a bit. Instead of being directly in front of your dog stand at a distance and allow your dog some freedom of movement, then ring the doorbell. Don't expect your dog to automatically sit but if he does reward him right away. The first time you try this he might follow a bit of his old pattern and rush the door but calmly place yourself between the door and the dog and follow the training routine as you have been waiting for him to sit. Practice until you see success, which ideally, would be your dog sitting at his spot near the door waiting for a reward. You can decide how close to this ideal scenario you wish your dog to perform.
On Halloween night, begin the training routine the way you ended your last session; when the doorbell rings follow the same routine. If your dog does not perform the exercise as you expect don't fret, just go back and start again. If he does well then continue. Remember, you are just using Halloween night to practice your new skill of teaching Fido to sit at the door.
